Matt Prior looks set to give England a huge boost by reporting fit for duty for his 58th consecutive Test when the second Ashes series of the year begins at the Gabba on Thursday.

England's captain Alastair Cook had remained non-committal about Prior's prospects of playing at his pre-match media conference. But the 31-year-old wicketkeeper, who had been expected to miss the game after suffering a calf injury in the penultimate warm-up game in Hobart 10 days ago, then came through his usual strenuous pre-match workout with England's specialist coach Bruce French on the outfield in fierce Queensland sunshine.

Prior's appearance would represent a remarkable recovery, after he had been regarded as highly doubtful even at the start of the week, and further evidence both of his natural fitness and his dedication.

Cook stressed that England would not be taking any chances with Prior, despite his importance, as vice-captain, to the team. “He's a very valuable member of the side, a hugely experienced cricketer and a huge help for me as vice captain. But you have to be sensible. You could have him for this one game but if he then goes back five major steps and gets a bigger tear in it and misses three or four then we'll look stupid. If he plays four out of five that's better for us. But he's been given every opportunity because we know how valuable he is to us.”

Both sides see the first Test as crucial to setting the tone of the series, just as England's breathless victory at Trent Bridge did in July. “We know how important this game was last time for setting up the series,” Cook added. “Australia have obviously got a very good record in Brisbane, and it's our job to try and change that.”

Australia have not lost at ‘the Gabbatoir’ since 1988. “We've spoken about their record here,” Cook confirmed. “We spoke about that at Lord's in 2009 when we were playing Australia who had an excellent record there, and made a real conscious effort to change that. So we know this side can do that – when a specific challenge is in front of us, we've delivered.”

Australia's captain Michael Clarke was in less revealing and even brusque mood at his press conference, around an hour before Cook's in the same Champions Room at the Gabba. “I'm not going to sit here and promise the world, tell you everything is going to be different,” he said when asked how his team could reverse the 3-0 defeat they suffered in England.

"Our job is to perform at our best, and hope the result will take care of itself. I think the belief is there, and I hope we'll show that over the next five Test matches.”

He did confirm that Shane Watson will not be able to play a full all-rounder's role as a result of the hamstring injury he suffered in the one-day series in India. "I don't think he'll be at 100%, and be able to bowl 25 overs in the first innings of a Test match,” Clarke admitted. “But he has improved every single day. I'm really confident he'll be able to bat at his best, and do a job with the ball.”

Some members of the Australian media have wondered about the possibility of four seamers being selected with the occasional spin of Clarke and Steve Smith in support, but Cook said he would be surprised if they omitted the specialist off-spinner Nathan Lyon. As so often before, Clarke deadbatted the question by stating that he does not select Australia's team.